Apparatus and method for liquid crystal lens imaging
US9531940B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2014 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/81
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus includes a lens group containing at least a liquid crystal lens, a drive circuit, an image collecting unit, and an image processing unit. The drive circuit is connected to the liquid crystal lens to drive the liquid crystal lens into an out-of-focus state or into an in-focus state. The image collecting unit is configured to collect light signal passing through the liquid crystal lens and to generate an image according to the light signal. When the liquid crystal lens is in the in-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an in-focus image of the light signal and, when the liquid crystal lens is in the out-of-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an out-of-focus image of the light signal. Further, the image processing unit is connected to the image collecting unit to receive both the in-focus image and the out-of-focus image and to process the in-focus image using the out-of-focus image to obtain a processed in-focus image as a final generated image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.